Les Thermes Bleus, France

Les Thermes Bleus is an abandoned thermal spa complex in France. We visited this place in the spring of 2018, as we travelled over France in search of beautiful lost places. At the time of our visit, the spa appeared frozen in time in the 1980s, when the site was abandoned.

The main attraction here is the beautiful blue bathing pool. This oval-shaped bath is well-lit by a large skylight. There is abundant, beautiful natural decay to be seen here. The corridors on the ground floor feature similar blue tiles and are similarly decaying peacefully.

Another interesting area at Les Thermes Bleus is the medical wing. Inside this area is a doctors office. Papers and books lay scattered on the desk. Leading off from the office is a treatment or examination room. Inside this room there is a bed, vintage scales and a few other pieces of medical equipment. There is also a waiting room with leather benches where patients would await their appointment.

History of Les Thermes Bleus

The healing waters of Les Thermes Bleus have been exploited since Roman times. Six different spring sources all feed into this one location. Their waters are sourced from deep in the earth crust, and are enriched in fluoride and sulphur.

In the 1600s a popular novel extolled the health benefits of these hot springs. Subsequently, interest in these springs were renewed and a fresh life was breathed into this spa. The new spa complex was built as interest grew.

By the mid-1800s, the spa was modernised and expanded. Most of the present buildings at Les Thermes Bleus date to this period. A chateau was also built on-site, to accommodate guests.

However, the spa began to struggle in the 1980s and subsequently closed. The waters were still used medicinally for several years, but now even this has ceased.